The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-07-08
YANKTON INSANE ASYLUM.
Gov. Church and Examiner Harris
Make Report Upon the Yankton
Asylum Investigation.
They Find That the Trustees Unlaw.
fully Delegated Their Powers and
Duties to Secretary Colby.

lhey Find That the Trustees Unlaw-
fully Delegated Their Powers and
Duties to Secretary Colby.
BISMARCK, Special Telegram, July l-Gov
Church received and there was made public.
to-day the report of Public Examiner G. N
Harris on the testimony taken by the COM
mission appointed to investigate the charges
made against the trustees Of tho Yankton in
sane asylum Mr.. Harris IN his report first
says that he found no discrepancies in the
records and accounts of the steward, j. A.
Potter He then gets right down to the gist
OF the whole trouble by saying:
THEY DEIHoATED THEIR POWER
What has made tho trouble and delay In this
Investigation was the manner and way of doing
business by the trustees during the past two
years. They havo. during that time, overlooked
their duties as All advisory board and have as
sumed tho duties of superintendent of the In
stitutton and have dsbursed several of the ap-
kept no vouchers and in no case have they
furnished to the auditor itemized
statement for the amounts they have drawn out
OF tho several funds. thereby having no clue
during the time they operated AS to where and
how the several funds have been expended: and
whom placed on the stand and asked to explain,
their memory fails thom, and as that was. in
most cases, the only record kept by them, 1t
leaves nothing whatever as basis from their
years A. +. Colby acted as their secretary and
business manager.
During tho last two years the trustees have
taken ont of the steward 8 charge funds ngure-
eating $24.45O. and have also duly installed
their secretary Colby, US treasurer supertn-
tendent OF construction and purchasing agent.
vouchers In favor OF Secretary Colby and certi-
fled to by him and The president OF tho
sh,a as Sy Nancy G.Sx dawn @
| amount OF SS.s9u.GO. For tho estimates
made by Colby he can give no explanation.
simply claiming that the amount OF money was
drawn by him as needed and iudiciomsly In
vested. Williams who was president OF the
board at the time above amounts were drawn.
did not know until after the report of the board
was made to Gov. Pierce, Nov. 30. 1886, that
money had been drawn on estimates AMI that 1t
port. deficiency in the tnel account OF S2,
9oo,9s was accounted for by Mr.. Colby by say
ing that no had borrowed from tho fuel fund to
carry out other improvements
THE TOTAL SHORTAGE.
IN az the finds handled by Colby find h
total shortage ot $5,47l.53. Territorial Auditor
Caldwell paid the vouchers drawn In favor of A.
Il. Colby, most OF them were upon tho funds
before mentioned. The law makes 1t the duty of
the steward to disburse the employees funds and
buy all supplies for tho institution and in no
case arc any of these vouchers supposed
to reach the secretary of tho boards hands
The law makes 1t the dfty of the superin-
tendcnt and the president of the board of trus-
tees to check ur and certify to the correctness
OF the stewards monthly statements, and the
auditor has no authority whatever To pay voucfi-
ers that are not certified to in this way, And
yet Auditor Caldwell in hls dealings with Mr.
Colby during the past two years has seen tit to
do away with steward and superintendent, and
to recognize Colby alone In these several capaci-
tics, thus giving the officers no opportunity
whatever to have any check upon the money OK
pended from those several funds Caldwell Ia
the man who should have checked and refused
to recognize this manner and way OF doing busi-
ness.
Examiner Harris proceeds at length then
to show how Colby was by tho trustees ap-
pointed superintendent OF construction ana
made treasurer OF the funds over which
they had assumed control. During the two
years FOR such services fp received
$l $3.50, although he devoted most of his
time to his store and his private business
The examiners report then recitea Hi.
Cobbys testimony on tho Witness stand,
showing his defective memory as to the
funds and the expenditures from each Tho
shortages in each account arc then gum
married. and arc shown to represent a total
of $5,472. 53.
THE aoyRRNoR's HEroHT.
Having considered the report of Examiner
Harris Gov. Church has issued hts manifesto.
He first quotes the provisions of the law de
fining the duties Of tho board OF trustees.
superintendent, steward ETC.:
The latter by law shall keep an accurate ac-
count OF all receipts and expenditures In detail
which shall BIO open to tho Inspection of the
superintendent and board OF trustees,
Gov Church then quotea the section of the
law that provides that;
the erection Of any building or for the doing OF
any work or for any purpose other than ordin-
AIRY expenses shall be drawn from the territorial
treasury in advance of the work done or the ma
tertal furnished. and then only upon proper es
Inmates thereof. approved by the trustees.
EXECUTIVE DIsPLEAsuRE
Tho gubernatorial decision, after quoting
tho law and reviewing the case, is In the FOL
lowing language:
The actions Of the trustees have been In abso,
themselves the powers and duties af the super.
these M ed datIes tbsassyos q empoxsIsd allowed
benefit of ''s Has ssa security hav,oE foE the the
caIs by law were required To- rendsr ana .hsv 9r
had given bonds faithfully to perforM ahc In
terpolation in the stewards report aiiows thst
had prevented tho steward from tischaroine the
duties he law imposed: this action of the board
merits the seycrcst criticism for many reasons.
After careful examinasion Of tho sct Of 1887
am not satisfied; I have the power to remove
The office of trustee being for q tixed period.
and the further TACT that the acts compiained Of
were committed hy board of trustees appointed
IN 1889 and which went out Of existence on the
formation OF the present board. The evidence
expenditure OF a large amount Of public funds
Tan ma nave not eeen accounted for
Ing the management OF the ate bnapI ana tne
attempt made by a majority of the present
VINO I've were members OF the former board to
the executive In eanrassinv his Iisnnnva us'lnes ny
continuance Of suoh management The past
manaHeLnent manu- Indicates. to say the least. an
and deanee Of tho seuna ,a hts 1nsiaess principals
cnce. II no greater ofYcnse has been committa5
jnstiiies the executive in taking such steps for
the future as he may deem aivisai,a ard W.
act OF 1887 empowers. LOUIS K CHURCH.
Couay.or
supp, r,,rxr., nc,,,r n''''''oi'
hsfoAI
In supplemental report dated Aberdeen
June %. Public Examiner Harris s,,h,,,..
tbs renorta ~ ~, .,,,art a,,,.., suoih,es
."o i'e " an eApero, employed by him
TO 60 over and verify in detail the report
submitted by E G. Smith aud John n Gam.
W., w, "tSoin ~. me trustees OF the hos
pital. Oh work done and superintended by
ht,,,.iv ,,,.L I,os so'